Since the beginning, we've named our soups after real places throughout Washington and the surrounding Northwest. From small towns and mountain peaks to rivers, canyons, and historic landmarks, each name was chosen because it means something to us and the region we call home. Each soup has a story, and so does the place that gave it its name.
Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and the Columbia River Basalts are well-known reminders of the Pacific Northwest’s volcanic past. Less widely known but equally dramatic is Mount Mazama in southern Oregon.
At its peak, Mount Mazama rose roughly 12,000 feet above the surrounding landscape. Around 5,677 BC, a massive eruption dramatically changed the mountain forever. The eruption sent ash and volcanic material high into the atmosphere and ultimately emptied the magma chamber beneath the volcano. As the structure weakened, the summit collapsed inward, forming a large caldera.
Over time, the collapsed basin filled with water, creating what is now Crater Lake. At 1,943 feet deep, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and the ninth deepest in the world. The National Park Service describes it as unmatched in the world: a deep, intensely blue lake surrounded by nearly 2,000-foot cliffs, with small islands and a dramatic volcanic history that continues to shape its identity.
Today, Mount Mazama remains visible as the rim of Crater Lake National Park, a place widely recognized for its striking beauty and geologic significance.
